Chief Financial Officer Experienced leader who has increased enterprise value

6643 Pebble Beach Way

Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202

Home 941-388-0622 RobertCoston@aol.com

Mobile 850-691-3336

Chief Financial Officer
Experienced leader who has increased enterprise value by driving revenues, reducing costs, improving productivity, and controlling overhead expenses. Goal-focused, with unquestioned integrity and competence, and superb people skills. Extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions (M&A), ERP selection and implementation, and managing multi-location operations. Strong finance and administrative leadership skills in a variety of organizations: private equity (PE), industrial, manufacturing, construction, and business service firms, and fiercely dedicated to the success of the company.

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  Education and Credentials – Bachelor of Science (BS), Florida State University
  

Master of Accounting (MAcc), Nova Southeastern University

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), University of Phoenix

Certified Management Accountant (CMA), State of Florida

CIA - sponsored Top Secret security clearance (inactive)

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  Experience -- Chief Financial Officer and Secretary – PE-owned $500 million environmental services company
  

Chief Financial Officer – Private equity-owned manufacturing and construction firms

Division Controller – privately-held $500 million FDA-regulated medical devices company

Director of Finance (CFO) – Department of Defense $100 million prime contractor (Iraq)

International Finance Manager – NYSE-listed $4 billion global chemicals manufacturer

U.S. Army officer with combat leadership experience – led 300-person combat support company

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  Results -- Increased enterprise value:
  

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  Provided the financial leadership for a private equity project that resulted in the increase in revenue from $44 million to $500 million, and an equity increase from a negative $753K to over $20 million in four years; revenue increases for Kysor Industrial from $90 million to $170 million,
  
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  Leadership role in turnaround of private equity-backed $50 million educational institution, and turnaround of $45 million private equity-backed engineering and construction company,
  
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  Provided the financial and administrative leadership that resulted in a stock price increase in a NYSE-listed manufacturing firm from a low of $6/share to a buyout of $43/share,
  
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  Increased annual cash flows for large public manufacturing firm by $6 million/year through improved inventory turns, reduced DSO, and aggressive vendor management,
  
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  Developed strategic plans and aligned budgets and individual incentives to provide a framework for organizational success,
  
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  Raised $24 million to finance the turnaround and restructuring of a not-for-profit research development, and proprietary bioscience manufacturing organization. Developed and sold home healthcare SaaS company.
  

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  Acquisitions - Managed the selection and assimilation process for several large acquisitions ($50 million environmental services company, $20 million pipe fabrication operation, $15 million specialty products manufacturer, $4 million electronics division),
  
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  Systems - Selected and implemented enterprise resource planning (ERP) programs (McCormick and Dodge, BPICS, Deltek, Timberline-Sage, Great Plains, Peachtree) and the CRM program, SalesForce,
  
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  International Experience – Financial planning, budgeting and reporting responsibility for manufacturing operations in Canada, Mexico, and Germany.
  
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  Econometric Modeling – Developed numerous industry/business unit econometric models to accurately predict the financial outcomes of various scenarios.
  

Private equity-backed (Blackford Capital) professional engineering, manufacturing, and construction company with numerous field construction sites and fabrication (manufacturing) plants in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio. Company consists of field construction, pipe fabrication, fire protection, and a stand-alone Professional Engineering group.

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  Provided senior finance and administrative leadership during turnaround of the company – revenue increased from $45 million to almost $90 million
  
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  Managed the financial aspects of new investor/ownership change of the company, from private equity to lender/management ownership of the company – brought in new capital investors and banking relationships
  
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  Established a treasury function to effectively manage the critical cash flow processes – developed personal vendor and client relationships to improve cash management
  
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  Managed the assimilation process for $20 million pipe fabrication acquisition in Ohio – this plant was the most financially successful operation within the company
  
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  Major upgrade of the ERP system – Sage-Timberline. Electronic capability to monitor and track construction projects with detail costs and billing.
  

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  Turnaround of $50 million educational organizations through program triage, elimination of overhead and growth in student enrollments
  
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  Led the transition to permanent senior financial management
  
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  Develop treasury functions and cash flow analyses – worked with vendors to improve cash flows
  
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  Establish protocols for interfacing financial and academic systems
  
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  Responsible for Campus Director financial literacy training – held numerous working session with Campus Directors to improve understanding of financial statements
  
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  Responsible for development of the Annual Budget (all locations) – worked with Campus Directors and senior management to provide financial goals and objectives
  
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  Developed comprehensive econometric business model for the organization – predictive model for estimating impact of changing course offerings and student enrollment
  

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  Led the finance and accounting functions during a period of rapid revenues growth -- from $44 million to $500 million in four years – BP oil spill generated explosive growth for short period of time
  
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  Established Project Remediation Division to increase company environmental services capabilities and reduce revenue and cash flow fluctuations
  
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  Managed the finance and administration integration of a $50 million acquisition – purchased a Texas-based environmental firm that doubled the revenues. Eliminated the overhead associated with the acquisition.
  
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  Developed the annual budget and strategic plan in conjunction with operating management and private equity firm.
  
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  Managed the ERP conversion from Computer Ease to Timberline-Sage software. Significantly enhanced financial reports for operating management.
  
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  Primary interface with the Board of Directors, banks, auditors, bonding company
  

Privately-held $107 million prime contractor for U.S. government.

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  Led the finance and accounting function during a period of rapid revenue growth – from $16 million to $107 million in two years
  
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  Managed the company’s growth with only $200,000 in startup capital (and without debt)
  
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  Managed the transition of the government-friendly Deltek software from parent entity to Ellis World Alliance
  
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  Primary interface with Defense Contractors Audit Agency (DCAA) and Defense Contractors Management Agency (DCMA)
  

NYSE-listed $400 million capital equipment and automotive manufacturing corporation. Manufacturing plants in Conyers and Columbus, Georgia, and Germany.

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  Led the finance, accounting, treasury, planning, human resources (union and non-union shops) and information technology functions
  

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  Implemented strategies that resulted in an increase in revenues – from $90 million to $170 million, and an increase in stock price – from a low of $6/share to a buyout of $43/share
  
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  Designed and implemented an aggressive working capital management program (accounts receivables, payables and inventory) that increased cash flows by $6 million/year
  
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  Managed the acquisition and assimilation of a $15 million specialty products company
  
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  Responsible for the selection and implementation of a new information technology system (IBM’s AS400 mainframe hardware and SSA’s BPICs ERP software)
  
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  Co-Zone sales manager for the Northern and Mid-Atlantic sales territories
  

Privately-held $500 million FDA-regulated medical device and consumables manufacturer

Sales and Marketing Division Controller

Developed PC-based forecasting model to better predict future product demand

Fortune 500 chemicals and fibers manufacturing corporation

Financial Executive Training Program – Engine and Foundry Division